LibreOffice: out of the niche, into the mainstream

Posted on by July 4, 2013

Hot on the heels of Genoa’s adoption of open source, South Tyrol in the north of Italy is standardising use of LibreOffice (just as LibreOffice’s v4.1 is about to be released).

South Tyrol is a seasoned user of open source. For the last 20 years “free software” has been in use in its public administration, but now LibreOffice gets its moment in the sun. Over the next three years 7000 PCs will migrate from Microsoft Office to LibreOffice. At the end of that period, ODF will be the default document exchange format.

LibreOffice choice made by committee

The decision to standardise LibreOffice was made by representatives from many sectors, as representative of users as of experts, as it should be. Echoing Genoa’s reasons for adopting open source, the committee’s reasons for standardising LibreOffice include

  • avoiding vendor lock-in
  • increasing flexibility
  • saving costs – and, interestingly:
  • supporting the region’s smaller IT providers

Managing change is essential

The key to the successful adoption of open source technology into the mainstream is a managed process. This is borne out in Munich and again with Genoa, and Freiburg’s experiences demonstrate what happens when you don’t take this sort of approach.

Roberto Bizzo, Minister for Innovation and Information Technology, emphasised that the changeover would require commitment from politicians and management. Identifying one of the greatest strengths of open source software, Bizzo said that moving to open source would allow greater flexibility in a fast-moving IT environment. Hear hear.

Thanks to H-Online for the source material for this blog article.

Adopting Open Source: Genoa, a text-book case

Posted on by October 22, 2013

Genoa: major economic centre and latest adoptee of open source technology.

The municipality has for some time now given open source technologies equal weight, but now that position is changing specifically to favour open source and, more crucially, open standards.

Perhaps mindful of the contrast between Munich’s and Frieburg’s experiences of adopting open source, the city’s IT department is using online learning modules to educate employees in the new systems. This article from H-Online details some of the software swaps that are being made, including moving to Zimbra, an email and collaboration system that we offer.

Genoa: One corner of the Milan-Turin-Genoa industrial triangle, with banks dating back to the middle ages, shipyards and steelworks active since the 19th century and with a cultural pedigree as long as your arm.

The Genoese are a canny bunch, and admit that adopting open source is a strategic move, ensuring “long-term access to data, without legal or technical barriers”. The administration is aware of the challenges inherent in continuing to manage “the breadth and complexity of our information systems, grown over the years out of numerous systems and applications and differing in age and technology” and so approaches open source with care and eyes wide open.

Genoa: a city with a thriving economy and the foresight to base its activities on sound open source technologies, for the very best of reasons.

This is the most reassuring aspect for us of Genoa adopting open source. These are its reasons, and we agree with them wholeheartedly:

  • Promoting open standards
  • reducing dependence on software vendors (just see the tangle the UK government is failing to extricate itself from when it comes to software vendors)
  • extending the lift of computer kit
  • financial savings

Megan Baker House – an update

Posted on by July 9, 2013

Megan Baker House logo OpenSure blog

Megan Baker House continues to flourish thanks to fantastic staff and exhaustive fundraising efforts from staff, families & community and businesses, but efforts can’t stop for a moment.

Megan Baker House is OpenSure’s charity for 2013, and what a busy one it is. We’ve just received their latest newsletter (PDF available to download from our servers at this link: MBHNewsletterMay2013), and the merest glance leaves us wondering how anyone finds time for any work with so many events going on! Clearly they do find the time, as MBH’s excellent work continues to make all the difference in the world to families not just across the UK but across the world too.

Megan Baker House has strong support from stalwart fundraisers, but this doesn’t mean it can relax for a moment about its financial situation. Like any charity it faces tough decisions all the time, and chief exec Lee Gough has to balance ratios, needs and resources continually in order to maintain provision of MBH’s conductive education.

Support Megan Baker House in every day ways

It’s clear from the newsletter that many companies are glad to donate to Megan Baker House, but more can always be done, and the contribution made by the steady income from smaller sources is just as valuable. There are many ways that you, yes you, can make a contribution. How about

  • buying eggs from Henry’s Happy Hens? These are available from the MBH premises, and provided by a family that uses MBH’s services. So far Henry’s Happy Hens have raised £250 for MBH – clucking excellent!
  • MBH can make money from donations of old clothes. These can be dropped in to MBH in Moreton Eye or dropped into the clothes deposit bin in the Luctonians car park in Kingsland.
  • Support events contributing a share of profits to MBH, such as the Shobdon Food & Flying Festival, coming up this weekend.
  • Donate an item on MBH’s wishlist, eg white A4 paper, A5 envelopes, gardening equipment.

There’s always something small to you that would make a big difference to Megan Baker House and the families it supports. Please help them if you possibly can.